A long menu of active adventures, all enjoyed amid a delightful scenery, await in three easily accessible regions of Scotland, Perthshire, Angus and the Kingdom of Fife. You can easily reach these areas from Glasgow or Edinburgh, if you arrive into Scotland through these cities.
From relaxed stand-up paddling to high-adrenaline bridge bungee jumps, the list of active things to do in Highland Perthshire, Angus and Fife appeals to a wide range of visitors.
Active fun in Highland Perthshire
Perthshire is a destination for fun-seekers and outdoor providers make the most of a superb natural playground. Fast-flowing rivers, such as the Tummel and Garry, can be descended on a variety of inflatable crafts, including river bugs, river dukkies, sledges, tubes, two-person fun yaks and larger group rafts.
Canyoning makes imaginative use of spectacular gorges where canyoneers, wearing wetsuits and safety kit, jump, scramble, slide and swim their way down stunning water-filled gorges at locations such as Bruar and the Birks of Aberfeldy.
A gentler-paced sister activity of gorge walking can be enjoyed at Bruar, too, and at Calvine, near Piltochry, or how about testing your balance by aqualining on a slackline above the gorge?
Another gorge, which drops 40 m to the River Garry at the Pass of Killiecrankie, offers daredevils a thrilling bungee jumps or harnessed bridge swings.
Angus: Water fun and wildlife
In the neighbouring Scottish region of Angus, there are plenty of options for adventure and outdoors fun. Wild Shore Dundee in the city of Dundee has cable-powered wakeboarding, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), ringo rides and a floating obstacle course on offer at a sheltered former dock area.
Beginners might also like to try SUP on the calm waters at Monikie Country Park, close to the city, as well as learning to canoe, sail and windsurf.
Arbroath Cliff Tours provide excellent kayak experiences on a gorgeous coastline.
Paddleboards are a wonderful way to journey through the landscape with the peaceful rivers Esk and Isla highly recommended, or join a sublime sunset paddleboard outing at Montrose Basin and Forfar Loch.
At Lunan Bay, one of Scotland’s finest beaches, a SUP Safari is the perfect way to immerse yourself in nature and see this wonderful coastline up close, as well as numerous seabirds.
Family-friendly Canadian canoes are another great choice for relaxing water-based outings, or for a memorable paddle, join a night-time kayak with Outdoor Explore on the rivers Isla or Tay. Enjoy starry skies and a bright moon, and listen for wildlife calls.
Wildlife kayak trips in the early morning or evening offer the chance to see Tayside beavers, as well as osprey, heron and kingfisher.
Wildlife spotting is a feature of a RIB trips on the Tay from Broughty Ferry, or from the city of Perth. You’ll see plenty of seabirds and perhaps even dolphins and seals.
Also in Perthshire, Loch Tay Safaris offer wildlife boat trips with a knowledgeable guide who will also offer a host of fascinating facts about local history, heritage and folklore.
In Fife, paddlers can enjoy kayak outings to coastal Tentsmuir Forest National Nature Reserve for a good chance to see seals and possibly dolphins.
Loch Tay has a host of activities to try.
See more ideas of active things to do in Angus.
Perthshire, Angus and Fife: Active adventures on land
The beaches, rolling hills and forests inland in the three regions provide a focus for further active gems.
At Dunkeld in Perthshire, you can roll down at hill in an inflatable zorb.
It’s possible to “zip” between trees and cross obstacles high up in woodland at Aloft!, a tree-top adventure park in Crieff Hydro’s Action Glen. Go Ape has similar experiences.
Off-road vehicles provide more fun, including quad biking and Segways in the countryside around Crieff. How about going for a trek with an alpaca, too?
The family friendly Active Kids Adventure Park near Stanley in rural Perthshire is perfect for a day of entertainment. Alternatively, teams of colleagues or friends can try an adventure day or Highland Games with Nae Limits.
If you have always wanted to learn to climb, a sandstone quarry at Kirriemuir in Angus, provides the ideal environment for family sessions. Another great place to climb is at Avertical World in Dundee.
Another rock-based activity is discovered on the Fife coast. The Elie Chain Walk offers an exciting and safe sea cliffs traverse.
Also in Fife, the spectacular West Sands beach at St Andrews is Scotland’s number one location for power kiting, kite surfing and land yachting with Blown Away.
Fife offers the chance for tandem skydiving or parachute jumping. Or for something quite different try gold panning at Dull, Perthshire, or axe throwing.
Highland Perthshire, Angus and Fife: Cycling and running
Cyclists, both road and mountain bikers, will find many miles of quiet roads and trails to explore across the Scottish regions of Highland Perthshire, Angus and Fife.
Test your bike handling skills or learn to cycle at Fife Cycle Park at Lochgelly. For novice mountain bikers Camperdown Country Park in Dundee is a good choice.
Check out the Rings of Breadalbane for a selection of routes on both road and the trail or head to a mountain biking centre, such as Templeton Tangle in Dundee or Comrie Croft in Perthshire.
E-bikes are increasingly popular and you can hire e-bikes in Perthshire from several locations, including Beyond Adventure in Aberfeldy and Comrie Croft Bikes near Comrie. You can also find services like Progression Bikes fro hire and guided trips on e-bikes
Four legs might prove better than your two legs with opportunities fro all levels at stables and riding centres across Perthshire, Angus and Fife.
Running tours are increasingly popular for seeing new places at a faster pace. Check out Girls on Hills, for example.
With so much to do in three scenic regions you will be keen to return for more another time.